Buveur D'Air has just two rivals in the Watch Racing UK Free on December 31 Novices' Chase at Haydock on Friday as he returns to the scene of his debut success over fences.

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old emerged through the fog to land the odds from a smart rival in Cloudy Dream at the Merseyside venue two weeks ago.

Buveur D'Air, a Grade One winner as a novice over hurdles last season, has scared away most of the opposition from an original entry list of 15. Only the Patrick Griffin-trained Aminabad and Caroline Bailey's Gorran Haven are taking him on.

"From what we could see, he jumped well at Haydock and he goes back there," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.